Calling a class method raises a TypeError in Python

I don't understand how classes are used. The following code gives me an error when I try to use the class.

class MyStuff:
    def average(a, b, c): # Get the average of three numbers
        result = a + b + c
        result = result / 3
        return result

# Now use the function `average` from the `MyStuff` class
print(MyStuff.average(9, 18, 27))

Error:

File "class.py", line 7, in <module>
    print(MyStuff.average(9, 18, 27))
TypeError: unbound method average() must be called with MyStuff instance as first argument (got int instance instead)

What's wrong?

Solution 1:

You can instantiate the class by declaring a variable and calling the class as if it were a function:

x = mystuff()
print x.average(9,18,27)

However, this won't work with the code you gave us. When you call a class method on a given object (x), it always passes a pointer to the object as the first parameter when it calls the function. So if you run your code right now, you'll see this error message:

TypeError: average() takes exactly 3 arguments (4 given)

To fix this, you'll need to modify the definition of the average method to take four parameters. The first parameter is an object reference, and the remaining 3 parameters would be for the 3 numbers.

Solution 2:

From your example, it seems to me you want to use a static method.

class mystuff:
  @staticmethod
  def average(a,b,c): #get the average of three numbers
    result=a+b+c
    result=result/3
    return result

print mystuff.average(9,18,27)

Please note that an heavy usage of static methods in python is usually a symptom of some bad smell - if you really need functions, then declare them directly on module level.

Solution 3:

To minimally modify your example, you could amend the code to:

class myclass(object):
        def __init__(self): # this method creates the class object.
                pass

        def average(self,a,b,c): #get the average of three numbers
                result=a+b+c
                result=result/3
                return result


mystuff=myclass()  # by default the __init__ method is then called.      
print mystuff.average(a,b,c)

Or to expand it more fully, allowing you to add other methods.

class myclass(object):
        def __init__(self,a,b,c):
                self.a=a
                self.b=b
                self.c=c
        def average(self): #get the average of three numbers
                result=self.a+self.b+self.c
                result=result/3
                return result

a=9
b=18
c=27
mystuff=myclass(a, b, c)        
print mystuff.average()

Solution 4:

Every function inside a class, and every class variable must take the self argument as pointed.

class mystuff:
    def average(a,b,c): #get the average of three numbers
            result=a+b+c
            result=result/3
            return result
    def sum(self,a,b):
            return a+b


print mystuff.average(9,18,27) # should raise error
print mystuff.sum(18,27) # should be ok

If class variables are involved:

 class mystuff:
    def setVariables(self,a,b):
            self.x = a
            self.y = b
            return a+b
    def mult(self):
            return x * y  # This line will raise an error
    def sum(self):
            return self.x + self.y

 print mystuff.setVariables(9,18) # Setting mystuff.x and mystuff.y
 print mystuff.mult() # should raise error
 print mystuff.sum()  # should be ok